Recently at a wedding someone was telling me how there is to too much negativity preached from the pulpit today and that what we need is more positive and uplifting messages. So would it be safe to assume she would not be a fan of this particular blog on the sinfulness of sin? One of [...]
With the recent death of Muhammad Ali, many of the morning shows on TV were paying tribute to him. Whether it was the Thrilla in Manila when he fought Joe Frazier, or the Rumble in the Jungle when he fought George Foreman, Muhammad Ali was known for his self-proclaimed "I am the greatest." BUT... The only [...]
Mother's Day, which we just celebrated this past Sunday May 8, is one of the most celebrated holidays. Hallmark and FTD look forward to this day annually with salivating anticipation. So while our regular calendars say Sunday was Mother's Day, our church calendars say Sundays is the Lord's day. So what's a pastor to do? [...]
As a manager of a retail store, when I offer to put customers' items in a plastic bag, they refuse the bag with the retort "Save the planet." Now don't get me wrong. In our home we recycle, but in our church you would not find us practicing church discipline on someone for failing to recycle [...]
The Word of God is inexhaustible in its ministry! Its ministry is continuous and abiding. It's active, operative and at work. Paul said that the Word of God is at work in believers(1 Thessalonians 2:13). So let's look at the Word's inexhaustible ministries as outlined by the apostle Paul to young pastor Timothy. "But as for [...]
The theological controversy that was stirring back when I was in seminary was the Lordship Salvation controversy. The issue was whether or not submission to Jesus as Lord is a post-conversion thing or part of the essence of saving faith. I recall vividly fellow students asking me what I thought of Zane Hodges book Absolutely Free. [...]
Talking with a friend recently, he said that Jesus will take 99 steps toward you, but you have to take the last step. Is that really true and Biblical? Is someone's salvation dependent on that person taking that one final step? Is even God Himself somehow dependent upon man to take the final step before He [...]
"The Cowboy Pastor" or better yet "The Bull-Riding Pastor". No, this was not a typo. Yes, you read correctly. Lawrence Bishop II, pastor of Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio, rides bulls in a built in rodeo arena in his church to attract people. On May 19, 2015, ABC News Nightline aired a program about this [...]
Walk with me. We are taking a stroll down the long hall way of your high school. Each side is lined with classrooms and lockers. At the very end, funneling down like a tunnel, stands a tall and wide glass case displaying the championship trophies of your football team and basketball team, of which [...]
Why did Jesus die? A church I visited a few years ago was giving out as part of their welcome package for visitors a book on the 50 reasons why Jesus came to die. Chapter 23 of that book was entitled: "So That We Might Belong to Him." Exactly. Paul, in writing to Titus, highlights [...]